As the year draws to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot about this space and what I can do in the new year to challenge myself (and hopefully you) in new ways. It probably doesn’t come across this way on the blog, but I often struggle with questions like – What am I doing to make a difference? What can I do to help people and animals? Am I growing on a personal level? Lately, these questions have gone mostly unanswered. Don’t get me wrong, I love sharing my recipes with you (and I know it makes a positive difference based on your feedback – thank you), so I have no plans to stop recipe development. It’s something I enjoy immensely more days than not. But there are other things I could be doing and I’ve felt this pull at my heart strings a lot in recent months. With only weeks to go until my cookbook manuscript is due, I’m feeling worn out and I’m sure this a big reason for the rut I feel like I’m stuck in. The good thing about a rut is that it usually prompts a change for the better (with time). Discomfort prompts motion.
In spirit of change, I’m starting a series on veganism this year – simple posts that can make the transition to a plant-based diet easier. I’m really excited about this. To be honest, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for over a year now, but I tend to suffer from the mindset that if I can’t do it exactly right or if I don’t know all the answers, then I shouldn’t do it at all. Well, this is a rather silly way to go through life, don’t you think? The truth is, I’m the only one holding myself back. I want to share whatever it is that I can offer and trust that it will be helpful for some of you. Even if you have no desire of going vegan or if you are already a vegan yourself, I still hope that this series will be inspiring and peak some curiosity about things you may want to know more about.
Here are some examples of questions I receive every week:
What can I replace yogurt with?
What’s a substitute for sour cream?
I have no idea what to do. Do you have a vegan 101 Series I can read through to get started?
What do you eat each day?
How do I get protein?
What the bleep is a flax egg????
What do I do if I have a craving for an old food?
Why do you soak beans and nuts? Will my husband fart less if I soak his nuts? (Yes someone wrote this once…I almost spit out my drink.)
I want to start TODAY…help me!
It occurred to me that it would be more helpful if I posted my experiences on the blog, rather than simply via email. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few years, it’s that a vegan diet isn’t about what you take away; it’s really about what you add in. I didn’t know this for a long time. For every food that I decided to forgo, I eventually added at least a handful of new, vibrant foods in its place. But first, I had to learn what it is I could add into my diet. This wasn’t easy for me in the beginning and I suspect it’s not for many. Three and a half years into it, I’m still very much learning.
To make this series a success, it’s important for me to have your feedback and input. I’d love to know some of the questions you are struggling with right now or perhaps things you struggled with in the past but triumphed over. Everyone loves a good success story, myself included. [Side note: I’m considering the return of reader success stories, perhaps in a Q & A format – would you enjoy this feature again on OSG?]
For those of you who are making some changes to your diet in 2013, I hope you’ll find this series timely and helpful in your journey. More on all of this very soon.
For more in this series, see:
Part 1: How To Make The Transition
Part 2: Replacing Dairy Milk
Part 3: Homemade Oat Milk
Part 4: Homemade Almond Milk
Part 5: Ten Tips for eating out as a vegan
I wish you a happy, fun, and safe New Year’s surrounded by the people you love! Happy New Year to you all. Thank you for reading Oh She Glows and bringing me into your home each week. I bid farewell to 2012 filled with gratitude.
I would like to see more information on preparation and grocery shopping. I drool over your recipes, but I could use more help in knowing what I should have on hand to make it easier to whip up whatever feeds my fancy. I like the idea of meal plans for beginners too. I’d also like to see substitutes for cheeses :)
Angela, this could not come at a better time! I have used your blog as a resource for the past 5 months or so! I love it and have gotten so many good ideas for breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner….and a lot of the recipes are so tasty my husband does not mind when I make them :) I found out last May that I had an allergy to dairy and eggs, so while I can have meat basically my entire diet is vegan. I have decided in 2013 to become fully vegan and I know it is a lifestyle that I can stick with that will over all make me feel better about food decisions.
My only thing that I struggle with is that there are hardly ever any quick, on the go meals to make as a vegan and sometimes that can get exhausting. Do you have any suggestions for quick snack ideas?
Also, I am assuming your husband eats meat, so how do you do you make meals work so that both of you can eat them?
Finally, how do you suggest to make it work when going to a family function and no one else is vegan? I struggled with that a lot this Christmas (however, my husbands side of the family is very supportive and helped me out a lot!)….
Anyway, THANK YOU again for bringing this series onto the blog, I for sure will enjoy it and learn from it! :)
I can’t believe you left us hanging with the nut soaking question! Was the reader referring to the husband’s nuts or the nuts the husband consumes? Either way, I am looking forward to the answer too! :)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog. It is one of a handful I look at EVERY day. I do not want to become a vegan but read it because I am trying to lose weight and gain health. I like to eat vegan foods and want to add more vegan meals to my life in 2013 so i am really looking forward to your new series.
Please don’t feel stuck in a rut. Your blog does not seem at all rut like. I enjoy every post you put out there. You are one of the bloggers I would most like to meet as you seem such a lovely person and I have really enjoyed watching your photography develop this year. My aim for 2013 is to improve my photography. So you inspire my photography and healthy eating. Happy New year to you :-)
This will be so helpful! Can’t wait to see the rest!
Angela, you have absolutely made my day! I have struggled with converting entirely to a plant based diet for quite some time now. My main setback would be that I am the only one in my family of four that hates meat. How do I incorporate a vegan diet with my meat-loving family?
Also, how do I grocery shop wisely and spend less? I absolutely love the grocery, but sometimes feel lost and overwhelmed once I get there.
Keep doing what your doing, your blog is amazing! My mother in law just converted to becoming vegan so your blog has been a great topic of conversation for us :)
That sounds so exciting! I have started flirting with going vegan. My husband and daughter will probably not be on board, but I really want to do this! Thank you Angela!
Love learning from your blog! Although I have no desire to be completely vegan I am mostly interested in incorporating as much fresh fruit and veggies for the healthiest life I can live. I always enjoy your recipes that focus on an abundance of fresh fruit and veggies! You are an inspiration for a healthy way to live!
I love this idea! I’ve been a reader of your blog for a couple years now. My husband has been vegetarian for almost three years and vegan for a year and a half. I’ve found many awesome recipes from you and other bloggers, so I think I learned a lot through here.
I’m by no means an expert though and would love any advice or information you provide!
Oh, and I love success stories!
Happy New Year, Angela!
I would LOVE this. My questions are, what are some easy meals with few ingredients that would be quick to prepare after a long day at the office? I would love if you had some crockpot vegan meals as well! Also, I’m so confused on protein… some say you lack it in a vegan/veg diet, others say we actually need far less than we think. What are good protein sources other than beans (I get tired of them so fast) and quinoa (I’ve tried so many times, but I just don’t like it)? Also, if you could provide more details on where to find certain ingredients in your recipes… like cocoa nibs? I’ve searched high and low. Also, is it possible to eat vegan without breaking the bank? So many products and ingredients in your recipes I’ve found at the store, but are so expensive! But yes, I understand that you get what you pay for!
Also, I loooove your more personal posts, so I would love to see more of those in the new year.
That was a lot of questions. Looking forward to this series, I read your blog every day! All best in 2013!
I’m definitely looking forward to your series! The two HUGE issues for me are budget and being able to find required ingredients in my area’s grocery stores!
This is a great idea Angela! I became vegan April 2012 and have not looked back since! Of course there are those times I would eat something then later realize that there was some form of dairy, egg or honey in it. All you can do is live and learn. My husband decided that a plant based diet is also for him last week. I am more than thrilled that he is doing this for himself. He is now going through the same “growing pains” that I did. The other night he came home with a headache, I asked if he had enough protein which he replied no. Sure enough after getting some protein into him, his headache went away. This will be helpful for both of us along our vegan journey.
Thank you so much for doing this series!! 2013 is the year I finally go vegan, a decision I have been struggling with for a couple of years. I have been vegetarian for a while, but I am ready to make the leap.
My question: How do I deal with the negativity of others when I communicate my decision? My family does not understand my desire to be vegan, and I feel like I inconvenience them even if I try not to by bringing food to share.
I absolutely LOVE this blog and I look at it every day! I am always so excited to see new posts. Thank for all of your hard work and dedication to this blog; I know it helps countless people and blessed us followers immensely!
I also would love to hear how us fellow vegans tell our non-vegan friends/family that we eat a vegan/plant-based diet? So far, many people I’ve encountered do not support it or know much about it, and I haven’t found “the” thing to say right off the bat to people.
Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE being vegan and consider it one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, but I have found that I dread going to restaurants, especially with non-vegan people. My biggest fear is that going to non-vegan-friendly restaurants will leave others with the impression that being vegan means you can only eat iceberg lettuce salads with oil & vinegar dressing. Anyone else know what I mean?
I just want to prove to others that it’s possible to have amazing food when dining out, but I don’t know how to handle this when dining at non-veg-friendly places!
I started my New Year’s resolution a bit early and have cut out all dairy. I was vegan for about a year but drifted back, mostly because I got lazy but also because I have a cheese addiction! The “fake” stuff just doesn’t do it! I have decided rewarding myself with better skin will be worth it. I’ve been a long time reader and have seen many of your “cheesy” recipes….I think it’s time to actually make one! :)
Happy New Year!
ps-The nuts part totally made my day.
I love this idea, I’ve been slowly transitioning into a more plant based diet but feel like I’m unable to let go of eggs, poultry, or seafood. As well, my difficulty lies that my iron levels are extremely low, and I’m finding it hard to eat iron rich plant based foods (usually now I’m mixing pumpkin seeds with a source of vitamin C like kale, spinach, strawberries etc.) and taking an iron supplement. As well, I train a lot, and as a result I find it difficult to find that post workout protein that I usually crave in forms of poultry, seafood etc.
This is exactly what I need! I am making the transition into veganism, and while it doesn’t seem overly difficult now, I definitely am going to need some advice when school starts back. Being a grad student, I am so busy during the semester that I struggle with how to eat healthy, let alone eat vegan. So, I guess some tips/advice would be helpful with how to be a healthy vegan while constantly on the go.
“Discomfort prompts motion.” – I *LOVE* this. Great idea, it would be incredibly helpful to have such a series! Happy new year, may it bring you great things. :)
This couldn’t have come at a better time! I’m making 2013 my year of clean eating and I’ve been flirting with the idea of going vegan. I’ve been a reader of your blog for a while now and I’m really looking forward to these posts. Happy New Year!
I echo earlier comments. I am a single mother of three teenagers with voracious appetites. I decided to move progressively toward a plant-based diet in 2012, even if my kids want me to make periodic traditional, non-vegan meals for them. Pre-planning, knowing what to stock, understanding new foods and substitutes for old ones, and having quick meals at the ready–these have been early challenges for me in 2012. I look forward to your blog. What perfect timing!
Angela,
I also think the “how to” series is a wonderful idea. I love your recipes and have been making many of them throughout the past years. I am not a full vegan but I am very interested in going vegan. At this time, I am not really sure how to make the transition. Some of your readers stated above that they worry about social situations. I feel the same way. How do you handle pressure to conform from friends, family and colleagues? Also, I would love to see some recommendations on how to cook delicious vegan meals on a budget.
Keep up the great work and happy new year.